We are all saddened by the death of our Holy Father the Pope who has been an 
extraordinary leader of the Church for almost 27 years.

Our sadness is shared by our fellow Christians and by so many non-Christians, 
people of goodwill, who recognised in the Pope a person who in his constant 
teaching on so many major issues affecting the good of humanity was in many 
respects the conscience of the world.

He was an heroic man, heroic at every stage of his life from a very early 
age when he lost his mother, his only brother and then his father.   He was
heroic in the hardships he endured under the Communist regime in his country.   
He was heroic in the manner in which he endured the attempt on his life and 
he was heroic in his long-time suffering with illness.   He was heroic in 
his dying.   He taught us how to live, how to suffer and how to die.  

Indeed, when as bishops we visited the Holy Father on our five-yearly official 
visits, he always showed a great awareness of life, suffering and death in 
the context of our own diocese and always expressed particular concern for 
those priests who exercised their pastoral ministry in difficult circumstances. 	

I know that the faithful people of Down and Connor will now be praying that, 
his Holy Week of suffering over, he will, with his sins forgiven, enter into 
the Easter Joy of the Risen Christ.

I ask that in every parish of the Diocese Mass should be celebrated on a 
suitable date and time for his eternal peace.

+Patrick Walsh
Bishop of Down and Connor